Reflector



I May 7, 1929. J STEARNS 1,711,705

REFLECTOR Filed Aug. 22, 192'? fi/evadp Y amp...

Patented May 7, 1929.

UNITED STATES 1,711,705 PATENT orr cs.

JASON c. srnAnns, or WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

REFLECTOR.

Application filed August 22, 1927. Serial No. 214,594.

This invention relates to an ornamental reflector for use withincandescent lamps to enhance their brilliancy and the effectiveness ofthe light. The invention can be used for various purposes as forexample, in signs,

Christmas tree ornaments, and the like.

The principal objects of the invention are to provide a conformation ofthe arms of the reflector that extend outwardly from the center whichwill produce a bright and uniform reflection from the electric lamp atthe center, over the surface of the several parts of the reflect-or andto provide for a brighter spot at the terminal of each arm, thusmaterially improving the effect of the reflection.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is aside view of a reflector, lamp and socket, with the reflectorconstructed in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the reflector by itself;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 33 of Fig. 2, radially throughthe center 'of one of the arms or points, indicating the reflection ofthe light rays, and

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional View on the line 4 4; of Fig. 2 alsoshowing the lighting effect.

It is customary to provide reflectors for lamps, particularly coloredelectric lamps, for use as Christmas tree ornaments made of variousshapes and reflecting a light so as to emphasize the shape of thereflector. These have been made, as far as I know, without dueconsideration of the direction of the rays of reflected lightand withoutany provision for directing the reflection along certain lines. Thusthey have the effect of flat reflectors, spreading the light all around,losing the efficiency of the device as a reflector and diminishing thebrilliance of the light as seen by the observer.

I make a reflector 10 to be applied to an ordinary electric light socket11 with an incandescent lamp 12 at the center. This reflector isprovided with a center perforation for the socket and has flanges 13bent back to grasp the socket and hold it on in central position. Thereflector itself may be made of sheet metal with the inner or concavesurface enameled or otherwise treated to get the best effect andpreferably colored to increase or modify the various colors of the lamps12. The reflector could be made of glass with the reflecting surface onthe back if desired, in order to secure most eiflcientdispersal of therays of light from the reflector.

I make up the reflector with a series of radiating arms 14, each onecentrally disposed with respect to the axis of the lamp and each onehaving along the center, a widely curved surface 15 extending all theway from one end to the other. Two flat diverging surfaces 16 extendoutwardlly from the ends of curved surface and formingcontinuationsthereof. This widely curved surface 15 is important becausethe rays of light come into it from the center and are reflected backdirectly in front, particularly if it is made of parabolic cross sectiontransversely to the length of the arm. The diverging flat surfaces 16disperse the light sideways enough so that from all points from whichthe reflector can be seen it will appear as lighted up brilliantly. Thebest effect of course, is by observing it directly from the front butthere is no point from which it can be observed to which the reflectedrays will not be directed. Therefore it presents a brilliant appearanceeven when viewed at quite an angle.

At the end each arm is concaved at 18 to form a cup-shaped surface. Thisconcave surface is parabolic or nearly so, longitudinnally of the arm inorder to reflect the rays back in substantially parallel lines. Thisavoids despersing. the rays at the tops of the arms and concentratesthem, so that the spots have a greater brilliancy than any other part ofthe surface.

The effect is to produce a brilliantly lighted reflector with the tipsof the arms brighter than the rest of its surface, instead of the usualfailure of the tips to be seen at all, except from a short distance. Thebroad curve along the axis is important because, usually these arms havebeen made with flat diverging walls and merely an angular connectionalong the center, which leaves the appearlll having fixed radiatingarms, continuous With each other at their bases, each having a broadlyconcave radial surface for the purpose described, said radial surfacesmaking a broad acute angle With the axis of the reflector and oftapering form.

2. As an article of manufacture, a reflector having radiating arms, eachhaving a broad 1y concave radial surface with its trough located in astraight line and diverging flat surfaces extending therefrom at thesides.

3. As an article of manufacture, a reflector having relatively fixedradiating arms, each having a broadly concave radial surface anddiverging flat surfaces extending therefrom at the sides, each armhaving at the extreme tip a concave reflecting surface of smallcurvature to concentrate the rays reflected therefrom.

4. As an article of manufacture, a reflector having radiating armscontinuous witheach other, each arm having at the tip a concavereflecting surface of materially different curvature from the rest ofthe arm to concentrate the rays reflected therefrom.

5. As an article of manufacture, a reflector comprising a piece ofopaque material having a central opening for receiving the socket of anelectric light bulb, and comprising arms extending fronr the center,each having a broad reflecting surface along the middle thereof ofparabolic form transversely and terminating in a concave tip ofparabolic form longitudinally.

6. As an article of manufacture, a reflector consisting of a singlepiece of metal and hav ing a socket at the center and arms radiatingtherefrom, said arms each comprising a' straight portion extending fromthe socket outwardly, transversely curved at the center in the form of aparabola and having flat portions on each side extending outwardly at anobtuse angle to each other, said straight curved portion extending fromthe socket along a line making a Wide acute angle With the axis of thesocket and the tips of said arms being curved lonigtudinally in the formof a parabola to form a cup-shaped surface to reflect the rays insubstantially parallel lines at the tip.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature.

JASON C. STEARNS.

